Can You Use Your Arms in Soccer?

A lot of sports have clear importance for using your arms right. However, soccer is mostly considered a game where your lower body does the most. Many players never know the importance of using their arms in soccer.

Using your arms right can be very helpful in becoming better at this sport. You need to know a lot about using your arms in soccer, and here we will explore all of the important things.

How can you use your arms in soccer?

There are a few ways in which your arms can benefit your improved soccer performance. Below are the details about a few of those ways.

You can use your arms to keep the opponents away

Whether you are a defender or an attacker, you can keep the opponents away from yourself. It can give you an advantage during real-game situations.

For attackers, they can keep the opponent defenders back with their arms while the defenders can protect the ball using this technique in their half.

Arms play an important role in communication

Believe it. You can make calls during a soccer game using your arms and hands. You do not always have to make calls with your mouth, which can be a decisive way of making calls with coded signals.

Arms are necessary for maintaining a good balance

Soccer is a game that needs you always to maintain a good balance. With the help of your arms, you can balance your body weight whenever you need to.

Arms help get higher jumps

Try jumping without assisting yourself with your arms. You will not be able to jump any higher. Now jump and get help from your arms.

You will see the difference for yourself. Ever wonder how CR7 gets those high jumps? Well, it is all about the technique.

You can run better when you use your arms

When you need to make sprints in a soccer game, your arms can be extremely helpful in controlling momentum. Arms are also beneficial in quick direction changes and maintaining a high speed.

Tips on being efficient when using your arms

While you know a few ways by which you can benefit from a soccer game, you need to be efficient in all of them. These tips that we are going to discuss below will be very helpful in enhancing your efficiency with your arms.

1. You must never extend your arms

Extending your arms is beneficial, but fully extending your arms can get your balance out. The referee can also call this act a foul. So, as long as you are trying to play fair, you must never fully extend your arms and go a stiff arm.

2. Keeping them low helps

You need to keep your arms low when running and dribbling through the game. Always keeping your arms high and intentionally touching other players can also be a penalty. Remember that when you kick the ball, using your arms will help you get power and maintain balance.

3. Practice things and make using your arms a habit

If you were not told the amazing benefits of using your arms, you might not be practicing them to your fullest.

Now that you know different instances when using your arms can be beneficial, make sure to practice things with a friend and make using your arms a habit.

Benefits of using your arms in soccer

Using your arms correctly in a soccer game can benefit you well. The following are the top 3 benefits you can get from correctly using your arms.

• Better technique with higher efficiency

When you learn to use your arms, you can be efficient in everything you do. You can improve every technique, whether it is about your momentum or balance. Using your arms right can also help you in better dribbling and agility.

• Keep others away when needed

Shielding is an important part of the soccer game. One of the best benefits of using arms is that you can shield your team players and the ball from the opponent players whenever needed.

• Being efficient with your arms makes you look professional

If you are preparing for the upcoming tryouts, showing how you use your arms can be amazing. It will tell coaches and selectors that you play soccer professionally and already know many good things.

Your overall appearance will be much more athletic and smooth no matter what part of the field you are covering.

What are some soccer rules about not using your arms?

When you are learning about the usage of your arms in this sport, you must also be aware of a few restrictions. Below are the details about some of them.

Touching the ball when you are an outfield player

The answer is no if you are looking for answers to can you block with your arms in soccer. Touching the ball with any part of your arms will be a foul. Only when you hit or block the ball with your shoulder will it not be a foul.

Pushing opponents

Is it legal to shield with arms out in soccer? Yes, but keeping your arms out always and all the way is not a legal activity. Similar goes with pushing players. If found pushing, you may get a foul from the referee.

Grabbing opponents

You cannot grab other players from their bodies or clothes in soccer while playing fair. It is another restriction about using your arms.

Protecting your face

While you might be trying to protect your face from the ball using your arms or hands, it is not fair. You must head the ball away or take your face out of the way. Touching the ball with your arms will be an illegal move.

Conclusion

Arms may not directly involve the soccer game as long as you are not a goalkeeper. However, there are many ways you can use your arms in soccer. Whether you are a defender or an attacker, as an outfield player, using your arms in soccer can always give you the competitive advantage you need to win. So, train well and right according to the rules, so you never make any mistakes about the importance of your arms in every soccer match.